Artist: Ren Yi (1840-1895)
Date: Qing (1644-1911), dated 1880
Dimensions: Height 122.7 cm, Width 47.0 cm
Material: Ink and colour on paper
Ren Yi (1840-1895), originally named Run with his zi (designated name) Xiaolou, later changed his zi to Bonian. A native of Shanyin (present day Shaoxing, Zhejiang province), he lived in Xiaoshan, and later moved to Shanghai. Ren Yi made a living by painting. He was adept at painting landscape, figure, and flower and bird, especially skilled in portrait. Ren Yi, together with the other three famous painters Ren Xiong, Ren Xun, and Ren Yu, was esteemed as "Four Rens". This painting tells the legend of Lady Hongfu happening during the late Sui to early Tang dynasty. The artist painted this painting in the sixth year (1880) of the Guangxu reign at the age of 41.